Remote start bad for engine?

[Sailor]

Well living in Saskatchewan I use the remote start a lot in the winter. As it is quite normal to get down to -30 or -40. I usually let it warm up 5-10 mins.

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[port43]

It usually takes me a few minutes to drive away since I'm busy getting my iPhone securely placed in my cup holder and checking my pockets to make sure I have my wallet. That gives Amber time to warm up.

 

[P. A. Schilke]

It usually takes me a few minutes to drive away since I'm busy getting my iPhone securely placed in my cup holder and checking my pockets to make sure I have my wallet. That gives Amber time to warm up.

Hi Tony,

Sounds like Ranger foreplay to me...

best,
Phil Schilke
Ranger Vehicle Engineering
Ford Motor Co. Retired

 

[Tracy Bowman]

2 items here.
Colorado, like the remote start, warm when I get in it.

When I start remote. The cabin reading lights come on as part of the remote start. They stay on if I don’t turn the overhead console switch On then Off.
I believe this should turn itself off, when the key is inserted and turned to the On position?
Does your overhead lights stay on?... Let me know, maybe a circuit board relay sticking On?

Mine don’t stay on.

 

[Tracy Bowman]

Thank you for that! Very informative.

 

[CB750F]

Mine don’t stay on.

Mine turn off also.

 

[drcollie]

"probably mathematically impossible for you to wear out an engine when you change cars more often that most people change their underwear."

Ha-Ha! Well, I have what you call a "collection" of vehicles, they don't go one at a time. Bad habit, but a fun one.

 

[Trigganometry]

I’m an Engineer by trade. Been around machinery my entire life. At one time I also owned an industrial diamond company. That’s back when man made diamond was introduced into industry. We produced tooling that revolutionized the machining of motors of all types. Automotive benefitted the most in this realm. Back in the 60’s and 70’s most engines and transmissions wouldn’t last much beyond 100K miles. Once tolerances and finished could be controlled with extreme precision was when the auto makers started to bump up the drivetrain warranties. Today they’re mastering subtitle details that only make them last longer.

Now with all that said, wear and tear are your worst enemy. Different metals expand at different rates. By allowing a warmup with out stress is absolutely the best way to bring a power plant up to operational temperatures. Clean oil and air also have a bigger impact than you think as well as the quality of your filters. Taking all this into account I personally allow my vehicles to warmup 5 mins minimum at idle speed. When colder out (I’m in NE) will go longer.

I got 287K out of my last Ranger. No reason doing the same thing I can’t repeat the same. That’s just my 2C

 

[r1ch999999]

I think the engine and powertrain has the ability to last that long with basic maintenance and care. The frame and body maybe, if you stay on top of the rust. But I doubt the electronics and all that will last that long. I guess unless you put on 50k miles a year, then you'd hit that number in 6 years, in which case I think you could make then. But most people don't do that.

Every vehicle I've had (and I'm relatively young so they've been modern vehicles) that has failed/died has been because I couldn't keep up with the rust (body, frame, suspension components) or from being worked too hard (plow truck and it's transmission). But they also didn't have fancy interfaces and screens and graphics. And with how slow and finicky a phone or personal computer gets after a few years these days, I don't have faith in the fancy Sync system or the like keeping up with the times. I'm fully prepared for the time when it dies and I have to just drive in silence because I can't get the radio or anything to work. haha

I've traded two cars because of failed electronics, but as long as you're not updating Sync you won't have a slow down issue.

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